ICW Speed Limits?

[boatingnewbie]

Are there actual speed limits on the ICW?

I know there are "No Wake" zones, but outside of those what is an acceptable top speed?

And what about the coastal cruising via ocean... for example, cruising along the coast of Florida. Do powerboats, for example, need to be 'x' distance from the shore in order to do certain speeds? And if so, is there a 'general' speed limit that's enforced? Or if a fast boat could do 60+ knots, is that okay as long as they're say, 1/2 mile from shore?

Sorry for the dumb questions. This is something I can't seem to find anywhere.

[a64pilot]

I have seen speed limits, but never paid much attention as I’m a 7 kt Boat.
I have also seen many times slow manatee zones, except for the channel, in the channel I guess it’s OK to run them down.
Only place I remember that comes to mind speed limit wise was Sarasota Bay.
However I have a tendency to avoid large built up areas when possible, so I’m sure there are more.

On, and very often where there are nice homes, it’s a slow Manatee zone within 300 Ft of the shore, but when the houses end, you see a sign that says resume safe navigation.
The Manatees I guess hang out by big houses?

[model 10]

Mach 1 ? Key west was full of offshore racing boats the last time I was there. On the inside/darkside you might run aground if you went too fast. The CBP have 4, 350 hp engines on their boats and I've seen them go for it. I also started seeing 3, 400 hp engines on the back of some boats. A hot bass boat on the Indian River on the FL ICW looks like mucho fun too.

[sailorboy1]

The only speed limit signs really are the manatee signs in FL that are like 35 mph, so not much of a limit.

Far as the power boats go, sadly a good percentage don’t care if they wake the crap out of you (yes, so do and try not to)